The Recovering Farmer

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Here it was, time for my annual, or perhaps bi-annual, visit to the doctor. You see, I got my class 1 drivers back many years ago and, truth be known, have not driven a semi for close to 30 years. I seem to keep my class 1 license simply because it forces me to get a complete physical at least once every 5 years. On my way to the doctor’s office I was commiserating about a conversation I had that morning with my wife. Seems both of us are experiencing certain stressors and, of course, with my history of depression I was thinking about how we could better cope with our stress so as to avoid some of those dark days I experienced a few years ago. Enroute I also saw some of the crop damage from huge amounts of rain on the weekend. I knew this excessive rainfall was experienced over much of Manitoba and realized that there would be numerous farmers also wondering what their future held for them.

As I was sitting and letting the lab tech withdraw blood, talk about stress, I noticed an interesting article hanging on the wall. It challenged the reader to live one day at a time. Easier said than done, right? I read the entire article and asked the lab tech to copy it for me. It made some interesting points that I could not argue with. It suggests that there are 2 days every week that we should not worry about. One of those being yesterday and the other is tomorrow. Pretty much covers everyday except today. It went on to say that what had happened yesterday could not be undone and we could not erase a single thing that had been said. Reminds me of the times I write emails out of frustration and then an hour later wish I could pull them back. The article also stated tomorrow is outside of our control. We can only assume what may happen and based on my experience I always assume the worst rather than the best. The only sure thing about tomorrow is that the sun will rise and set. The article suggested that “it is not the experiences of today that drive people mad – it is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow will bring”.

So that leaves today. As I ventured home from the doctor’s office, minus a few vials of blood, craving the coffee I did not have that morning, I actually felt my spirits rising as I realized that the only thing I needed to be concerned about was the rest of the day. I again found it refreshing how a simple change in thought process could lighten the mood. When I got home I showed my wife a copy of the article and saw a smile cross her face and knew, for at least another day, things would be okay.

The challenge becomes a matter of managing our thoughts. It becomes so easy to slip into those ruts of regrets. Those thoughts of “what if”. These negative toxic thoughts then lead to fears for tomorrow. And before we know it today is gone. Today is wasted. Be mindful. Keep your thoughts in the present. Today is what counts. Today is what matters. Make it a good one.